英美报刊选读考到的课本问题及答案

英美报刊选读考到的课本问题及答案Lesson ElevenIs America’s new declinism for real1. What is the difference between the latest global trends report and the one issued four years ago?The latest report foresees world in which the US plays a prominent role in global events，butthe US is seen as one among many global actors". The report issued four years ago had projected "continuing USdominance".2. What does "new declinism" mean?It means that Americans，especially theintellectuals，think that America is in decline. They have lost the aggressive confidence of the Bush years and the "unipolarmoment". It is new because there were times in US history when people had similar thoughts.3. What are the reasons of the new declinism?There are three reasons：First，the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have made it clear that US military supremacy does notautomatically translate into political victory. Second，the rise of China and India suggests that America’s days as the world’slargest economy are numbered. Third, the financial crisis has fed the notion that the US is living beyond its means and thatsomething is badly wrong with the American model.4. What does William Wohlforth of Dartmouth College think of the new declinism?He pointed out that America may recover from the new declinism just like before and there may be a resurgence of Americanconfidence.5. Why does the writer think that the new declinism may be more soundly based than the previous ones?Because he thinks that China may pose more challenge to the US than the Soviet Union and Japan since it has a large sizeand a record of sustained and dynamic economic growth..6. What do you think of America’s decline? And China’s rise?OpenLesson FifteenLibby Defense Portrays Client as a Scapegoat1. For what was I. Lewis Libby charged?Mr. Libby was charged for perjury and obstruction of justice because he was considered to have lied to investigators. He wascharged with five felony accounts of lying to the grand jury and to officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who wereinvestigating the leak of Ms. Wilson's name to Mr. Novak.2. How did Libby defend himself on the charges of perjury and obstruction of justice?Mr. Libby said that he believed he first learned about Ms. Wilson in a conversation with Tim Russert of NBC. He also told thegrand jury that he had been taken aback by Mr. Russert’s information. He had testified that he did not discuss Ms. Wilson’sidentity with Judith Miller，a former reporter for The Times,or with Matthew Cooper of Time magazine.3. How did Mr. Wells defend Mr. Libby?Trying to present the case as hopelessly complicated as possible, Mr. Wells spoke for nearly two and a half hours to leavethe jurors in doubt about the validity of the charges. And he asserted that Mr. Libby had become enmeshed in legal difficultybecause of White House efforts to protect Mr. Rove.4. Why did the White House intend to protect Mr. Rove?Because Mr. Rove was Mr. Bush’s right-hand man and "was most responsible for seeing the Republican Party stayed inoffice.”And he had a major role in guiding Mr. Bush's re-election campaign.

5. Do you think the Bush administration had distorted intelligence about Iraqi efforts to obtain uranium? Why or why not?Yes，I think so. Because the weapons of mass destruction have not been found up to now.6. How do you understand Mr. Cheney’s words that "Not going to protect one staffer and sacrifice the guy who was asked tostick his neck in the meat grinder because of the incompetence of others?"Mr. Cheney means that he is not going to sacrifice Libby just for the purpose of protecting Mr. . Cheney means that he is not going tosacrifice Libby just for the purpose ofprotecting Mr. EighteenA Race We Can All Win1. What are the different views between the author and some other American politicians on China? Why does he think so?Many American politicians have played tovoters’ economic insecurities by scapegoating China，while the author believesthat China is not a threat to America，but an incredible opportunity. Since the author has worked 35 years in the privatesector, and has run the nation's largest city for 6 years.2. What does the author see behind the growing Chinese economy?Although China emerges as an economic dynamo，the author has also seen the frailties underpinning its system. Theincreasingly congested roads and polluted air choke its economy and its people. The growth of cities is also exposing otherfundamental long-term economic challenges，for instance，the education system is simply not producing enough skilledworkers--- engineers，doctors，scientists and mangers. At the same time，health-care costs are skyrocketing.3. What common problems do both China and America meet? Give an example to illustrate how China is solving China and America have congestion，pollution，education, and rising health-care costs.4. Compared with China，what are the advantages for America to solve these problems? Do you agree with the author?The author advocates that America has a system of government that is far less corrupt and far more stable，owing toAmerican democratic politics，free press and open, transparent markets.5. In the author's opinion, how can America meet the challenge?The Americans should prevent themselves from slowing down, which means overcoming the political inertia that hasstopped them from investing in the 21st-century infrastructure that they need.6. Do you agree with the author’s opinions about China and the US? Please illustrate your own views with some NineteenWhy the Monarchy Must was Mr. Churchill’s view on Britain’s system of government? Do you agree withhim? thought it was the best that man had yet devisedthough it was imperfect.b. Open.2. What role does Queen Elizabeth II play? Can she play a better role than an American president in a sense? Explain.a. she, as head of state, carries out ceremonial duties, and takes the political accountability while remaining above politicsand taking no sides in any political debate.

6. What is the US government’s attitude to the Russian claim? Why did President Bush urge the Senate to ratify the Law ofthe Sea Convention?The US government refused to recognize Russia’s claim and blocks the bid. President Bush urge the Senate to ratify theLaw of the Sea Convention because , if the Senate ratified the Law of the Sea Convention, U. S. would have the same rightto claim a 12 mile zone for territorial waters and a larger 200 mile economic zone in the Arctic territory.7. Why did the author say that it promises to be a tough fight?If the Russian government wants to get its Arctic claim approved, it should have a tough diplomatic fight with other countries,especially the U. S. government.